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MINIPOLL

Internet Privacy Bill Could Allow Government Access to Your Email

Senator feels Internet's wrath as preview of bill leaked

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by PolitixMayday

Staff Writer t

Image: ABC News

Things may have come full-circle for a bill aimed at replacing a 1986 law governing warrants for electronic communications. S.1011 was drafted to update and protect American's online privacy for the 21st century, requiring federal agencies to obtain a search warrant, backed by probable cause, to investigate digital communications like email. Then it was rewritten to do the exact opposite.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, introduced the bill and its revisions. But a CNET report claimed the latter allowed 22 federal agencies access to communications sans warrant, igniting Internet outcry.

A defensive Leahy responded, saying he never supported any "broad carve-out for warrantless searches of email" according to FoxNews. Forbes reports the version of the bill to be reviewed next Thursday likely won't contain the provisions cited in CNET.

One danger of federal email-scouring is how extensive it can go: the FBI tripped across former CIA Director David Petraeus's affair while investigating a separate incident, for which no warrant was issued.

Via Fox News and CNET
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Should federal agencies be allowed to read emails without a search warrant?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • wild_turkey6
    !
    Saying "I don't have anything to hide" is the attitude they are hoping for. It isn't about people hiding anything, it is about privacy and the Constitution. What if you had to be strip searched whenever you left the grocery store to make sure you didn't shop lift? If you didn't shop lift, you should have no problem with it, right?
  • stepped_in_it
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    As well as mine. I won't say I don't "have anything to hide", but, what I am hiding will NOT land me on any "list"!(please, oh mighty government boys, don't tell my wife about my Vegas trip......it stayed there, I swear!! LOL) Merry Turkey day to all and to all a good supper!!

  • View all 28 replies >

  • PNWest
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    It would be impossible to stop them. I don't care what the law says when you send data over the internet the feds and anyone else who wants to bad enough can read it. When the head of the CIA can have his personal e-mails read what chance do you think anyone else has of keeping their emails private?
  • DogLady_1
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    They read his emails by conducting a warrantless search... is that ok with you? Since they can already do it, we should go ahead and abolish the 4th Amendment? Do you think evidence obtained without a warrant should be used against someone in a court of law? What other rights do you propose we abolish?
  • PNWest
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    @DogLady_1 Where in any of my posts do you see that I am supporting any warrantless searches or any erosion of rights in any way? I am saying that if anyone - government or not wants the information sent through the internet bad enough they can get it. It's out there and a clever person or organization can get it. That is not a political statement it is a technical statement. You should consider anything you say online to be both public and permanent with very few exceptions.
  • PNWest
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    @tomincali Nothing. It's too easy technically to do. If some high school kid with a 5 year old computer can hack into you accounts do you really think that there is anything you can do to stop the government - laws or no laws?
  • u
    tomincali
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    @PNWest have to agree with you on this. there is no way to stop it or even know it was done, unless your wife's secret sauce is in the paper the next day.

  • View all 8 replies >

  • FFX_VA
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    Say two words "National Security" and bye bye 4th, the judge will concur it's a reasonable search and allow them in
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @FFX_VA
    I am all too aware of the fact that in the name of protecting the nation they have destroyed it. Like I said in the post it violates the fourth amendment, but these days many don't seem to care...
  • FFX_VA
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    @Elliotsreport Yes, in some cases it's justified, in others it's not. Wonder what additional things Obama's Exec Order 20 allows them to do...
  • PoliticalSpice
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    @FFX_VA
    I voted Obama, still I feel excutive orders are widely abused and often unconstitutionally over reach. Am not familiar with that order, but if the patriot act and other post 9/11 laws were repealed mich freedom would be restored. We are headed toward fascism, and I mean the real thing, not the way people just throw the word around to condem people who political orientation they disagree with...
  • John_Matrix
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    @FFX_VA

    It's never justifiable to bypass the constitution and our basic rights. Attitudes like that spit on the very principles this country was founded upon. Freedom, liberty, whatever you want to call it requires risk. The risk of allowing your enemies a means to strike at you through those same freedoms you enjoy. You can't pick and choose who enjoys liberty otherwise it's not truly liberty.

  • View all 20 replies >

  • u
    ctc
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    Let's crash their systems........everyone cc the FBI, CIA, JusticeDept., Office of Homeland Security, and local DA offices on your next 50 e-mails......maybe they'll think twice.
  • Keyjo
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    Yes, then he whispered in my ear, "Don't worry Baby, I won't do anything you don't want me to! Shhhhhhhhh.........."
  • RedFloppyShoes
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    NLRB, OSHA, SEC, etc have no business looking at my emails to start with. They have no reason, nor probable cause. Take away the right to privacy in your emails, it is just a matter of time before there will be no need for warrants at all.

    The Patriot Act stripped away a lot of that already, too much government intrusion is already in our lives.
  • Fishbone345
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    @wild_turkey6 Began with the Patriot Act and continued with NDAA 12. Both parties it seems want to bring about tyranny. And the puppet citizens are more than willing to help them.
    Obama and Romney both supported the Patriot Act, Obama signed NDAA 12 and Romney said he would have done the same thing. Johnson said he would have 'not' signed it. Hence he got my vote.
  • wild_turkey6
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    Or any government official. Remember which administration the PATRIOT act started under? When it comes to civil liberties, both parties should be ashamed.
  • bizaroWorld
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    @wild_turkey6
    I also remember which administration ran a campaign in 2008 to repeal it and then promptly "forgot to' once elected.
  • wild_turkey6
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    @bizaroWorld Like I said, both parties have horrible track records on civil liberties. There has been very little opposition in either party on this intrusion, there is a handful of GOP and I can only think of one Dem in Congress that speaks out against this.
  • u
    woodway
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    That's right. They're not going to search my home or my car without a warrant,so why would I want them in my email. I have nothing to hide but I feel like alot of times they use intimidation to violate our rights and make us feel like we've done something wrong when we haven't.

  • View all 8 replies >

  • stepped_in_it
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    Without certain key words, I don't think the G-Men are gonna read e-mails. And a little FYI, They already are reading/listening in when those key words are used! Imagine how many people it would take to read ALL e-mails that are sent out (estimated at 107 TRILLION in 2010).
  • DogLady_1
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    For those of who claim they have nothing to hide:

    Are you ok with coming home to find that your place has been ransacked by law enforcement?
    Have you never used profanity in an email?
    Would you be ok with strip-searches in malls, as one poster has already asked?
    Are you ok with random cavity searches too?
    Is it ok if the government mainatains a record of every phone call and email?

    Why do you have curtains in your windows?
    Why do you wear clothes?
    Will you please post all your credit card transactions for us to see?
    Can the government put a monitor on your car to make sure you never violate a single traffic law?
    Should all your taxes be audited every time you file?

    Should we abolish laws against voyeurism?
    can your neighbor install a camera in your bedroom window so they can be a good citizen and report you if you do something they suspect is illegal?

    You are taking your privacy for granted, pure and simple.
    And everyone is guilty of something. Everyone has something to hide.
  • Dan_Tien
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    I think that a warrant should be required to access emails, but I have no illusions of privacy or even anonymity while on the internet.
  • Thunderchicken
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    As my mom used to say. "Never put anything in writing that you can't defend in court."
    That having been said, if asked I'd gladly allow anyone to look at may email history. They'd probably be board to death too.(Hell I get board deleting all the sale spam.) BUT no one has the right to just randomly go snooping through it. Ask or get a warrant.
  • VVP
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    Yes. Let them go ahead and try. I mean if you want to really create the first cyber war and potentially have a physical civil one to go with it.

    We know, you keep trying and trying and trying to inch your way into controlling the internet and you will not stop until you either get what you want, or do not like the consequences of what youve done.

    Just leave it alone. Accept that the net is not your s to control. It has moved beyond you. It is a possession of humanity now. Not any man or nation
  • o
    IraqWarVeteran
    !
    Fourth Amendment states, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
    A warrent must be judicially sanctioned and reasonable.
  • DogLady_1
    !
    Tyranny... "To maintain the ascendancy of the Constitution over the lawmaking majority is the great and essential point on which the success of the [American] system must depend; unless that ascendancy can be preserved, the necessary consequence must be that the laws will supersede the Constitution; and, finally, the will of the Executive, by influence of its patronage, will supersede the laws ..." -John Calhoun
  • o
    JpMonty
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    What kind of idiot would want this??? Apparently your government thinks your an idiot, or why would they bring forth a bill that infringes on our rights as American citizens?!?!? Welcome to the police state ladies and gentlemen!!! This is just another extension of the "Patriot" act....

    I'm definitely sure that one of these Politix sheep will think its somehow a good idea to violate our constitutional rights!!!
  • VVP
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    That would be because of the hipster generation with its ideology of "It doesnt effect me, so why should I care?" They are also hard at work at neglecting the responsibility to protect ownership rights as well as meaningful representative government.

    "You wanna save this country? Kill all the teenagers!"- Bobaflex
  • VVP
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    @Fishbone345

    Cmon now... That isnt fair at all. These are elected officials. They had to work hard pandering to their voting constituents to gain/retain their job. Do you really think it is fair to expect them to understand all the inner workings of all the interconnected tubes that make up the internet, or even have a clue what foresight is to look 3 steps down the line and figure out what the effect of their cause in passing this sort of legislation would be?

    I mean maybe had we elected Herman Cain, and he implemented his "all bills will be 3 pages" measures to cliffnote running the country, but cmon with out it, these poor diligent souls are condemned to a life of wandering aimlessly through red tape mazes and bureaucracy.

    Wheres Hermes Conrad when you need him!
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